Success. Level up. At this point, we were able to choose a neat female-specific perk, 'Cherchez La Femme', granting us an additional 10% damage against female targets. Incidentally, there's also a version called 'Black Widow' that does the same against male targets.

After pilfering the office clean of caps, food and ammo, it was back on the road again with our leading lady.

We noticed a service station probably a good half a mile down the road; it seemed as good a landmark as any to pursue. As it turned out, it was a riskier proposition that it superficially appeared, since a swarm of five Radscorpions had decided to call that joint home. That wasn't going to stop our progress though. Hell no.

Using five sticks of ill-gotten dynamite and some crafty timing, we began pelting the sting-happy monstrosities with high explosives. Then, as they chased us around the petrol pumps and wrecked autos, we began popping off the single-shot rifle until it was out of ammo. Then, as things began to get a little bit dire, we broke out the hunting knife from the Patrol Office and started making Radscorpion-carpaccio.

RUN AWAY. RUN AWAAAAAY.

After clearing out the den, we entered the Nipton Road Service Station and ransacked the place, making off with an array of foodstuff – some old favourites, some new items – and, sadly, couldn't access the real prize – a locked gun cabinet at the far end of the room. There was a special diary in here, marked 2/2 – and it revealed a fairly lucrative sounding mission. The author? One 'Super-Mayor Joseph B. Steyn III Esq.' Impressive. We'd keep an eye out for this on our next play through. Alas, our skills simply weren't high enough at this stage. We headed back outside, knife in hand.

Onwards! Time was running out. On the horizon, sitting atop a large hill, two towering figures loomed. That, friends – with our time running out – would be our target destination; a fitting vantage point to survey the landscape – and maybe get a taste of more side-missions.

As it happened, this appeared to be as far south as we could go at this stage anyway; the two towering figures marked the Mojave Outpost – an NCR Ranger outpost placed to help protect the transportation of good and people through the south. As we learned from the head ranger on the roof of the complex, there's been some woes with Powder Gangers – hoodlums – and the roads are blocked. Naturally they need your help, and accepting this mission kickstars the 'Keep Your Eyes on the Prize' quest. Perhaps finishing this would unlock the gate to the remainder of the south land.

Sadly, as the sun began to set, our time with Fallout: New Vegas drew to a close. There's no question that fans of the series will sink right into this new version – and even an hours' play already has us salivating for more. We can't wait.